Clutch breakdown checklist before you call for help

When the clutch goes wrong, it is natural to want to ring someone straight away. A short, ordered checklist gets you safe first and then gives your mechanic the information they need.

None of these steps involve tools or taking anything apart. They are about safety, observation and clear description.

Are you and the vehicle safe?

Before anything else, make sure everyone is out of harm's way. The car should be parked on level ground if possible, with the handbrake on, the gearbox in neutral and the hazard lights flashing.

If you are on a hill, a narrow lane or a busy road, think about what could roll or what could hit you. Passengers should wait somewhere safe, away from traffic. If the position is dangerous, call the emergency services or your breakdown provider.

What should you look for?

With the engine off, a short, careful look can tell you a lot:

• Pedal feel: floor, soft, heavy, or normal
• Fluid level in the clutch or brake reservoir
• Wet marks in the footwell or under the front of the car
• Any smell of burning or hot oil
• Whether any gear will engage with the engine running

What details should you note down?

Write down the make, model, engine type and registration. Note when the problem began, whether it was sudden or gradual, and what you were doing at the time, for instance pulling away uphill or carrying a heavy load.

Mention anything you have noticed in recent weeks, such as slipping, a high biting point, judder or noises. Those earlier warnings are often the real cause, and they help us tell wear from a failed cylinder or cable.

Keep your notes short and factual. A list of what you saw and heard is far more useful than a guess at the part that has failed, because the same symptom can come from several different faults.

What should you not do?

Do not keep driving if the car will not select gears or the pedal is on the floor. Do not try to bleed or dismantle hydraulics at the roadside, and do not get under the car. Avoid topping up with an unknown fluid.

Do not rely on pushing or dragging the car to a garage unless it is safe, and remember that moving a vehicle is recovery work, which should be arranged with a recovery provider rather than with us.

What happens when you get in touch?

We Fit Any Clutch Cornwall offers emergency and breakdown clutch repair, mobile clutch fitting and mobile mechanic work. Our mechanic travels across Cornwall, so tell us where the vehicle is as well as what happened.

After hearing the details we can explain what is most likely wrong and what the repair would involve. We will not promise a fix before the vehicle has been inspected, and the price depends on the vehicle and the parts it needs.

If you are able, keep the vehicle somewhere safe and accessible so that nothing blocks the work.